Cubs Land $67M All-Star to Replace Injured Ace

Two-time All-Star and former Cy Young candidate joins Chicago to fill rotation void.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 10:02pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the various angles and movements of a baseball pitcher's delivery, rendered in a palette of navy, green, and orange.A proposed trade brings a veteran All-Star pitcher to the Cubs, shoring up their rotation after a devastating injury to a young ace.Chicago Today

The Chicago Cubs have acquired a high-profile starting pitcher in a proposed trade to fill the void left by the season-ending injury to their young ace, Cade Horton. The Cubs are bringing in a two-time All-Star and former Cy Young candidate on a lucrative $67 million contract to stabilize their rotation and keep them in contention.

Why it matters

The loss of Horton, one of the Cubs' top young pitchers, was a major blow to their playoff hopes. This trade shows the team is committed to making a push this season and not letting the injury derail their postseason aspirations.

The details

According to reports, the Cubs have agreed to a trade that will bring in a veteran starting pitcher on a multi-year, $67 million contract. This pitcher is a two-time All-Star who was also a Cy Young candidate in a previous season, making him an experienced and high-caliber replacement for the injured Horton.

  • Cade Horton was declared out for the season with a UCL injury in early April 2026.
  • The proposed trade to acquire the veteran starter is expected to be finalized in the coming days.

The players

Cade Horton

A young starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs who was sidelined for the 2026 season due to a UCL injury requiring surgery.

The Veteran Starter

A two-time MLB All-Star and former Cy Young candidate who the Cubs have agreed to acquire in a trade to fill their rotation void.

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What they’re saying

“The Cubs needed to act quickly to replace Horton and keep their playoff hopes alive. This trade for an experienced, high-caliber starter is exactly the kind of move they had to make.”

— Ryan Shea, Sports Illustrated Writer

What’s next

The proposed trade is expected to be finalized in the coming days, with the veteran starter joining the Cubs' rotation shortly after.

The takeaway

This trade demonstrates the Cubs' commitment to contending this season despite a major injury setback. Acquiring an All-Star-caliber pitcher on a lucrative contract shows they are willing to go all-in to keep their playoff hopes alive.